The possibility to operate aircraft certified for “basic” RNP in “limited” RNP AR operations,
without the “full” RNP AR certification, is supported by Airbus. The upgrade of the “full” RNP
AR package described in paragraph 4.2. below is nevertheless highly recommended.
Although a “limited RNP AR” operations is not defined for the time being in the regulations,
Airbus considers that all RNP AR operations are not equivalent in terms of exposure. For
example, a curved final approach with RNP 0.3 implemented for noise abatment purpose, for
airspace management or flight path optimization cannot be compared to an RNP<0.3 AR
operation implemented in an environment with a high density of obstacles.
This “limited” RNP0.3 AR capability is stated in a document called SAAAR Capability and
Operational Compliance document (SCOC).
This statement of capability is not documented in the AFM.
The SCOC is not distributed automatically. The airlines, which envisage a “ limited” RNP0.3
AR project will need to request it to Airbus.
The SCOC is primarily intended for use by operators to support the operational approval by
the appropriate regulatory authorities.
A SCOC is available for SA aircraft with Honeywell FMS2 (in 2007), but we intend to develop
the same document for Thales FMS and LR aircraft in 2008 and 2009, for all configurations
capable to meet the airworthiness requirements of AC 90-101.
Compliance with this document does not grant an operational approval, and should only be
used for RNP ≥ 0.3 operations covered in the ICAO Performance Based Navigation manual.
The operator and its operational authority must determine the adequacy of the aircraft
definition with the intended operation.
Airbus has demonstrated to the FAA compliance with the airworthiness requirements of
appendix 2 of AC 90-101 for RNP 0.3 AR in approach and missed approach, without the
required equipment of the “full” RNP AR certification.
It is the operator responsibility to demonstrate compliance with the operational requirements of
AC 90-101 and to obtain the operational approval from its national authorities.
The SCOC has been developed to provide all the assumptions, limitations and information to
support the operators’ operational approval.
